Electrical apparatus



A. R. SMITH'. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS. APPLICATloN FILED MAY6.1919.

A. R. SMITH.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED IvIAYe. IaIo.

Patented Agg. 22, 1922.

III I@ FI@ I. Fig. Iz. /7 9 FQIS inventor: 44"@ Q Q Q .Arthur R-Smith,

UUUCIUUUEID HIS fIttm-ne- Asbefore stated, however, a

- equipmentsv UNITED STATESy minuit n. SMITH,

To all whom imag concern.' y

Be it known that I, Aurisina- R. SMITH, a citizen of" the United States, residing` at Schenectady, in thecounty of Schenectady, State of New Yorlr, have invented certain new and yuseful Improvements in `Electrical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates `to electrical apparatus, particularly toswitchboard structures, usin that term in its broadest meaning, and 2Cllas for its object to provide a switch` board unit or supporting structure for elec-` trical yor other apparatus which is `very flexible in construction, may be more readily standardized than switchboard structures now in use, which requires less labor in its construction, which overcomes many undesirable features ot"` present `switchboard structures, and which in other particulars,

l to be hereinafter described `more in detail,

is an improvement over'switchboard structures heretofore known. l

The term switchboard has come to have a meaning `in the art broader than isindicated by the terni itself, for such a structure may or niaynot carry switches or switch controlling devices but `may merely serve as a support for indicating or recording.,- instruments and like .apparatus .or may carry control and regulating apparatus Jfor steam and other .Switchboard structures now in use comprise oneor more panels oii slate, marble or similar insulating material, upon which is moi'lnted all the devices used to operate and control electrical or other equipineul';` the particular assortment and arrangement oit such devices being determined by the speciiic equipment to be controlled. IThese devices include indicating' and recording kmeters and instruments, re-

',lays, regulating and other control instrir ments or. all kinds, switches for electrically controlling larger switches and other apparatus and devices too numerous to men-y tion, but in general all devices which itis possible an'didesirable to bring; under the. .immediate observation vOr `manipulation oit the station ope .ator. All these devices, and anv comlgiination .ot them, l hereinafter inchide in the term Switchboard devices.7 fswitchboard;7 as that term is now understood, may .or may not carry switches, but ,the terni now means the assembly ot `any.combination oit switch- PATENT oFFlcE.

or scHnNnorAnY, New YORK, isere-fuor.- 'ro GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A oonronn'rio'n or new venir.`

` ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. P gl,ie]1ted ,Aug- 22, 1922 Application med nay e, 191e. serial. No. 295,247. i l

board devices on a suitable support or supporting structure, and it is with such broad meaning` that the term is used in this specification and claims. l

My invention will perhaps be better understood after a brief consideration of present switchboard practice and certaindisadvantages of undesirable features of present switchboard structures. The present 'switchboard comprises panels `of slate,`marb'le or like material supported by a suitable framework.` The location or such switchboard in a` station is often difiicult, `as toy support the board and hide and protect the back, due to exposed live parts, it is necessary to install the same with its baclr to wall, while at the same time, due consideration 'must be made tor windows in `order to provide satisfactory lighting` conditions. In the installation, consideration must be given to future. expansion, which necessitates leaving, open spaces for panels to be filled in at some later date or by providing blank panels, both arrangements being` unsatisfactory. Furthermore, ttor present switchboards, it is necessary tocarry .a large stock .of slate or marble in various sizes which is heavy 1naterial, ditlicult to handle, easily brealrable,

'expensive to ship and requires care to `prepare the same 'for shipment. Furthermore, little dependence is made in presentpractice upon the insulatingqualities ,of the slate or marble so that many of the devices mounted thereonl are separately 1insulated lroin the panel.

The conductors connected to the devices are held in place on the baclr ci the switchboard by cleats and otheraccessories, requirinp,` .drillingI of the panel and .these .connections log tier with. exposed live parts produce a` certain Vrisk as regards possible short circuits, collect dust and, due to changes of wiring; connections, present an unsightly appearance.

llt is common practice, at present, due to difficulty ot standard-ization, to make separate .drawings and diagrams et the .iront and rear of each switchboard panel, to provide full sized paper templets serving` as a pattern for duillinp,` .the holes tor mounting the devices. The devices are `.then suitably mounted, all necessary wiring; done and the installation set up vand inspected before the Switchboard shipped. Then for shipment, the switchboard is dismantled yand the devices shipped separately, all this work requiring considerable time and labor.

According to my invention, l substantially overcome the undesirable features ot present switchboard structures, as outlined., by providing` a novel and. improved supporting structure which is unitary in construction and. in its simpleso 'form con'iprises a hollow pedestal member into which the conduits lead, and hollow pipe or tubular member mounted thereon. provided with means whereby the various switchboard devices may be secured thereto. T his tubular member is an upright portion carried by the pedestal through which all conductors pass to the devices carried thereon. It is also possible7 under some circumstances, to have horizontally extending tubular portions if occasion desired. The pedestal .member is provided with a terminal board within its inclosure to which the various conductors, extending through the pipe member, are connected through fuses and the like, to the conduit conductors.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic oit my invention will be deinitely indicated in the claims appended hereto while the vfeatures of construction and mode ol operation will be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l shows in front elevation a switchboard structure embodying my invention in which various combinations oit' switchboard devices are used for each unit; F ig. EZ a side elevation. partly in section, oit a switchboard unit embodying my invention adapted for the control of a large switch; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion ot' the device shown in Fig 2; Figs. t and 5 are front and side elevations respectively of the pedestal portion of my switchboard structure. Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are detail views of a portion oit' my switchboard; F ig. l0 is a. sectional. view of the pipe member oil.l my structure showing various means whereby the switchboard devices may be secured thereto; Figs. ll and 12 illustrate dii'lerei'it methods ot mounting switchboard devices on the hollow member and Fig. 13 is a plan view of separate instrument and control equipments 1for a large plant, showing one arrangement of the switchboard units.

As shown in Fig. l, each switchboard unit 10, ll, l2 and 13 comprises a hollow and preferably vertical pipe or supporting member 15, which .may be round or plural sided but preferably square, as shown in. Fig. l0, and closed at its upper end by a suitable cap 16. At its base, the pipe or tubular meniber l5 is carried in and supported upon a pedestal or base Amember li', preli'erably substantially conical or pyramidal in con figuration Distributed along its length7 the pipe l5 is provided with a plurality ot openings or outlets,which may be provided with bushings, through which conductors may pass, caps or plugs 1S being provided tor such openings when not in use. rllhe various switchboard devices may be mounted upon or supported by the pipe l5 in various ways, one means ot support being indicated. iu Figs. 1l. and l2 wherein bracket arms or housings 2O are :fastened in various ways to the pipe l5 and at their outer ends are attached to the devices or the device casings 2l. From 'the back of each device, its conductors pass to the interior ot the pipe through the suitable opening 23. As shown in Fig. lO, the switchboard devices nir-.jy-r also be secured directl to the pipe member l5 iliroijigh. suitable attaching means or men'il 2li, 2G, 27 mounted in openings provided in the pipe through which the conductors 'for the devices are adapted to pass. Members :241, 9,5 and 26 are provided with threaded portions to which the devices, having corresponding parts7 are adapted 'to be secured, the conductors for such devices passing through. the openings into the interior o'lj' the member l5 thi-reby concealingY the same. These inemN bers 524i, 25 and E26 are n'ierel'v illustrative oi various mechanical. ways by which the devices may be secured to the pipe member either by bending over extension strips into the dotted line position, as shown by ineinber Qfl, crimping or expandiijip; in place. as shown by member 25 or by a linneo portion, as shown by niember 28. idlemb r 27. on the other hand, shows vfourth metl'ioil olf attachin devices being' threaded to the pipe member l5 and having an outer 'filangie botween which and the pipe, the device can so. clamped or otherwise secured.

From the various devices, conductors .912 then pass through their respective ope-nim in the pipe support l5, down through the hollow interior thereo'l' to a terminal or distributingl board 28 suitably supiiorted within the pedestal 1T, best shown in. F el and 5. ln. this manner all thc conductors 22 are protected by the casingot the pipe support and no wiring; is ei'- posed. rllhe diametelx oit the pipe. support 15 will be comi'iiensurate with the number o t devices it can support and hence anuile to take care of the conductors therefor.

These terminal boards El may be made iu. various forms but, in general, comprise, shown in F ig. 4L, a plate ot insulating material upon which is mounted one set otl terminal studs 29 to which is secured or anchored. the ends ol? conductors 22 connected to the various switchboard devices and a second set of terminal studs 30 to which is secured the outgoing' or conduit conductors ill connected to the apparatus or equipment to be controlled. Between the terminal. studs 29 and 30 ior completion oi their electrical rir- Maasai' cuits, are mounted various devices `such as fuses, testing Jacks, etc. In the Jform ot terminal board shown in Fig;` 4, various recessed portions 32 are provided fory the insertion ot fuses 33v whereas in Figs. SA and 9 recessed portions 32 are lprovided tor-iam meter, voltmeter or testing jacks 34 or other ,be apparent that any number of variations of connections may be utilized upon this tei'- minal board structure whereby numerous functions may be performed. The separatesets of terminal studs 29v and S30-provide` a convenient and easy method of changing connections as desired withoutr disturbing the other conductors andshould it be dev sii'ed to change the switchboard devices all that is required is tov disconnect its conductor or conductors 22 from its studs 29iand-re move the device with its connection attached.

Furthermore should devices be added in the" future, a device is `attached and its connection 22 dropped through the interior oi: the pipe support 15 and connected to theproper terminal 29, enough terminals being pro-` vided on the terminal board for the maximum number of devices which each pipe support can carry. The terminal board is carried within the inclosure of the pedestal 17 which is provided with an opening and cover for the same, thusI affording a very ac cessible and convenient location, at the same time preventing the accumulation ot dustand presenting alwaysa very neat appearance. Fig. 5 indicates in dotted lines, how` two suchterminal or anchor boards may be disposed within each pedestal, if required, The pedestal member 17 is preferably made with a flange portion 37 and a conduit box 38 depending therefrom, the flange portion 37 serving as a supporting means for the pedestal upon the ioor or cement base of the station, as shown in Fig. 4, while the conduit box portion 38 extends below the Hoor level and is provided with a plurality otopenings 39 through which the various conduits 39a pass, carrying the conductors 31 from the terminal board 28.

In Fig. 1, I have shown myV novel iorm of switchboard unit with various combinations oit switchboard devices carried thereby. Each unit may be acomplete switchboard in itself ortho four units 10, 11, 12 and 13 taken together may form units cfa switch-y board. Unit 10 shows a switchboard panel or unit controlling a generator, upon mein ber 15 of which is mounted, iiivertical alignment, six switchboard devices 40 which may therefor.

In Fig. 2 Ihave shown inside elevation, a modiied form ofunit in which a different be a voltmetei, aminetei-, wattmeter, power factor meter, steammeter and tempera-ture indicator or any combination of' devices desired. Upon this unit is shown other devices upon the' opposite side 4of the pipe memberl, such devices bei-ng those which areinot necessary for the' operator toL constantly observe, such as relays 41 and recording instruments 42, the back view of this unit being shown by unit 13. Immediately below these devices, isV shown a group ofy control switches 43 for synchronizing for connecting various machines orv lines to the meters individually, for controlling an oil switch, a turbine governor, a field rheostat and field switch, or Yfor any other purposes. The unit 11 shows a switchboard structure embodying my invention as and exciter panel having two indicating meters 44 anda voltage regulator 45;; If'it is desired to operate oil switches, or rheostatsor other heavy apparatus, separate pedestal supports may be provided conforming in` designwith thepedesta'ls 17, upon which the voperating handle and mechanism is mounted with any necesav saryk automatic tripping devices In unit 11 I have shown such a pedestal 46 mounted in front of pedestal 17 'for the unit, which carries the operating lever 47 for operating a switch and automatic tripping 4 devices 48 pedestal 49 is providedl for the pipe member 15 carrying the switch operating lever 47 andautomatic devices 48. In this figure the oil switch 5() to be controlled, is mounted'in a chamber or compartment 51 and `operated through a suitable' connecting mecha-nism 52 extending through an opening in the wall of the chamber. Upon the top of chamber 51, the `switch leads are connected to the bus bars 53 through a suitable disconnecting switch 54, the too portion carrying live partsl being protected y avsuitable screen 55. In Fig. 3,' a front elevation of a portion-of this structure isshown, giving an idea ot the ins conspicuous appearance of the switchboard unit. Mounted upon the pipe support 15 oitliis `switchcontrolling unit are various switchboard devices 56 as desired.

Referring again to- Fig. 1., unit12 is shown as a two circuit feeder panel: 'carrying six` instruments or meters 57` arranged in hori-` zontal pairs near the ,top `oi? the'pipe 15. Below these devices are shown tour relays 58 also arranged in horizontal pairs. Upon separate pedestals 46 in front of unit 12 are.

10, 11 and 12 indicates, by way of' example, i

the variety of switchboard.devicesy and the. various combinations of the same which, ac

cording to my invention, is possible to mount upon the pipe supporting member to meet not only all present requirements but also any future extensions, for with unused outlets covered by plugs 18 other devices may be added without diflitulty.` Unit 13 compared with any one of the others shows how completely the supporting member 15 may be utilized in carrying the switchboard devices.

In assembling the switchboard devices upon the pipe member 15, as before pointed out, the devices may be provided with a special casing adapted to be secured to the bushings 24, 25, 26 or 27 as shown in Fig. 10, this figure showing four different types of bushings by which the devices may be mounted with concealed connections. For mounting a single series of devices in alignment, a bracket construction similar to that shown in Fig. 11 may beused and for a double series of devices, similar to that shown upon unit 12 of Fig. 1 a bracket mounting to the side or offset from the pipe member may be used as shown in Fig. 12.

Inv Fig. 13 is shown a plan or layout of al station equipped with my improved switchboard construction comprising a group of switchboard units. Each of the units 59 are mounted with their pedestals 17 in alignment but in order that the various devices carried by these units may be observed from a central point, the pipe support members 15 are angularly disposed in the manner shown to enable the faces of the devices mounted thereon to all face toward acommon point. This flexible arrangement is of particular advantage when bench boards of control switches 60 are used.

The advantages of the form of switchboard structure described will be apparent so that only a brief outline of the same will be given. This form of structure is very flexible as any number of devices and combinations' of the same can be used, the devices can be readily standardized for various purposes, requiring only a few number of parts to be carried in stock. The parts are light, cheap to ship and non-brealrable. No drawings, wiring connections, or teinplets are necessary nor is it necessary to assemble the unit and test the same before shipment. The pedestals, pipe members with caps and plugs 18 in the outlets can be shipped disassembled in a compact manner requiring little space and the various devices can be shipped direct from stock without installing the same. The switchboard units can be mounted in front of windows and in any desirable location without unduly impairing the lighting conditions. Other units may easily be added from time to time as needed and the unit itself adapted for the installation of other devices as required for future needs. Flach pipe inember 15 is provided with a maxin'ium number of outlets and all that is neceffisary to add a device, is to remove a plug 1S and attach the device with its conm-lotion to the terminal board 28. Likewise this ilexibilitwY enables an operator to change his devices upon the same unit or from one unit to another with ease and facility.

Furthermore, all wiring connections are protected and are free from dust while at the same time ready means is provided for all connections, within the pedestal 17 on the terminal board. This board again by its structural features provides a means whereby any change or arrangement of connections can be made as desired. Finali;r a large equipment of devices can be in .talled in a relativelyA small space without impairing the appearance of a station and the units themselves never appear unsightly.

Vihat I claim as new and desire to serine by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

1. A switchboard structure comprising a tubular member, a hollow pedestal supporting said member, a terminal board within said pedestal, switchboard devices carried by said member, and conductors for said devices passing` from said devices aloi'ig the interior of said member to said terminal board.

2. A switchboard structure comprising a hollow member provided with openings through the wallV thereof, a hollow pedestal .supporting member terminals within said pedestal for said hollow member, switchboard devices carried by said member, and conductors for said devices passing through said openings to the interior of said hollow member and along the interior thereof to said terminals.

3. A switchboard structure comprising a vertical tubular member' provided with openings through the wall thereof, a snpporting base for said member, a tcrn'iinal board carried by s. l base, switchboard devices carried by said member, conductors passing from said devices through said openings to the interior lof said member and through the same to said terminal board, and other conductors connected to said first mentioned conductors through said terminal board.

4L. A switchboard structure comprising a tubular member provided with openings through the wall thereof, a hollow pedestal for said member, a terminal. board within said pedestal, switchboard devices carried by said member, conductors passing from said devices through said openings 'to the interior of said member and through the same to said terminal board, a conduit box carried by said pedestal and extending below the same, and other conductors extending into said conduit boX and connected to said terminal board.

5. A switchboard structure comprising a substantially hollow base member, a tubular upright member carriedby said base member and provided with a plurality of openings therein, switchboard devices,means whereby said devices may` be detachably secured to said tubular member and conductors extending from saidv devices through said openings into said tubular member and concealed thereby. y

6. In a supporting structure 'for switchboard devices, the combination with a hollow upright member provided with aupredetermined number of openings therein, switchboard devices adapted to be detachably secured to said hollow `member, conductors Jfor said devices extending through said openings and carried Within said hollow member, and means for closing said openings not in use.

7. A supporting structure for switchboard devices comprising a tubular supporting memberprovided with a plurality of openings therein, switchboard devices adapted to be detachably secured to said member, a hollow base member, a terminal board within said base member, conductors for said devices extending through said opried by said terminal board adapted to be connected between said first and second mentioned conductors. f

8. A switchboard comprising an elongated hollow member provided with openings through the wall thereof, an enclosed terminal board secured thereto at one end thereof, switchboard devices, means for supporting said devices upon said member, and conductors passing from said devices through said openings to the interior of said member and along the length of the interior thereof to said terminal board.

9. A supporting structure for switch-k board devices comprising a hollow pedestal member, a vertical tubular member mounted on said pedestal and provided with a plurality of openings therein, means whereby switchboard devices may be mounted in said openings, a terminal board within said pedestal member, and conductors between said devices and said terminal board carried within said hollow vertical member.

In` witness whereof, I `have hereto set my hand this 5th dayr of May 1919.

ARTHUR R. SMITH. 

